Prior names
Cheilanthes vellea, partly
Common names
Hairy Mulga Fern
Etymology
Cheilanthes from the Greek 'cheilos' meaning a lip and 'anthos' meaning a flower, alluding to the lip-like indusium (thin membrane covering the sorus). Sieberi named after Franz Wilhelm Sieber (1785-1844), a Bohemian botanist and plant collector who travelled to Europe, the Middle-east, Southern Africa and Australia. Pseudovellea means false velleia, possibly in reference to its mistaken status as a species (Cheilanthes vellea).
Distribution and status
Found scattered in northern South Australia growing in soil-pockets in rocky areas similar to Cheilanthes sieberi ssp. sieberi but often in drier situations. Also found in Western Australia, Northern Territory, Queensland and New South Wales. Native. Rare in South Australia. Very rare in New South Wales. Uncommon in Western Australia. Common in the other States.
Herbarium regions: North Western, Lake Eyre, Eyre Peninsula
AVH map: SA distribution map (external link)
Plant description
Erect fern to 40 cm tall. Fronds clustered or scattered and covered in fine white hairs on both sides of the lamina and sometimes the stipe. This subspecies differs from the other subspecies found in South Australia, Cheilanthes sieberi subsp. sieberi, which is glabrous on both surfaces or rarely very sparsely hairy on lower surface. Fruits are sori (spores) on the underside margins of the fronds between the lobes. Seeds are very fine spores.
Seed collection and propagation
Look under the fronds and collect ones with spores and place in a seal paper bags to prevent spores from fulling out. Leave fronds in the paper bag to dry. The spores will fall off naturally or give the fronds a gentle shake. Use a very fine sieve to separate any unwanted material. Be careful as the spores are very fine. Store spores in an air tight container in a cool and dry place or in a -20oC freezer.